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Irish in the NFL, Week 17: Notre Dame 2019 TEs combine to catch four touchdowns

On3 imageby:Patrick Engel•01/03/23•

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Former Notre Dame tight end Brock Wright catches a touchdown for the Lions (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)

Cole Kmet, Tommy Tremble and Brock Wright were the top three players on Notre Dame’s 2019 tight end depth chart. Three years later, they’re an NFL team’s primary option.

And Sunday, each caught a touchdown – all within 20 minutes of each other.

Tremble, in his second season with the Carolina Panthers, hauled in a 17-yard score that gave his team a 7-0 lead vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He finished with 33 receiving yards in a loss.

Wright, elevated to the Detroit Lions’ starting lineup midseason, scored the Lions’ first touchdown in a 41-10 win over the Chicago Bears on a 2-yard catch. He added another – this one a 9-yard reception – in the second quarter.

Kmet caught his team-leading sixth touchdown for the Bears, which gave them a 7-0 lead in the eventual defeat. He has started every game this season.

Those three all took different paths to their current standing.

Kmet was the first tight end picked in the 2020 draft, at No. 43 overall. He has started 42 of his 49 career games and amassed 134 catches for 1,342 yards. Six of his 8 touchdowns have come this year. Tremble was a third-rounder in 2021 and has 38 catches through two years. Sunday’s touchdown was his first of the season.

Wright, meanwhile, had the hardest route to becoming an NFL starter. He signed with the Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2021 after four years at Notre Dame. He was never higher than No. 3 on the tight end depth chart his last two years and ended his college career with just 7 receptions. He made the 53-man roster out of training camp this year, though, and a Nov. 1 trade of starting tight end TJ Hockenson cleared the path for him to start.

Kmet, Tremble and Wright are three of more than 40 former Notre Dame players who are on an NFL roster or practice squad. Here’s a look at how each fared in Week 17.

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Kevin Austin Jr. (Played at Notre Dame from 2018-21), WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

Signed to the Jaguars’ practice squad after being released during final preseason roster cuts and has not appeared in a game.

Aaron Banks (2017-20), OG, San Francisco 49ers

This week: Started at left guard and allowed 0 pressures in the 49ers’ 37-34 overtime win over the Raiders, but left due to ankle and knee sprains.

Season: 16 games (all starts), 1 sack and 25 pressures allowed, 62.7 Pro Football Focus overall grade.

Alex Bars (2014-18), OL, Las Vegas Raiders

This week: Started at right guard and allowed 3 pressures in the Raiders’ 37-34 overtime loss to the 49ers.

Season: 14 games (13 starts), 3 sacks and 30 pressures allowed, 48.8 PFF overall grade.

Ian Book (2016-20), QB, Philadelphia Eagles

This week: Active but did not play in the Eagles’ 20-10 loss to the Saints.

Season: Has not appeared in a game.

Miles Boykin (2015-18), WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

This week: 10 offensive snaps and 13 special teams snaps in the Steelers’ 16-13 win over the Ravens.

Season: 15 games, 9 tackles (194 special teams snaps), 2 catches for 11 yards.

Chase Claypool (2016-19), WR, Chicago Bears

This week: 19 offensive snaps in the Bears’ 41-10 loss to the Lions.

Season: 14 games (11 starts), 44 catches for 422 yards and 1 touchdown, and 9 carries for 59 yards between the Bears and Steelers … Traded to the Bears Nov. 1.

Scott Daly (2012-15), LS, Detroit Lions

This week: Was the long snapper in the Lions’ 41-10 win over the Bears.

Season: Has played in 16 games.

Liam Eichenberg (2016-20), OL, Miami Dolphins

This week: Started at left guard and allowed 7 pressures in the Dolphins’ 23-21 loss to the Patriots.

Season: Nine games (all starts), 2 sacks and 26 pressures allowed, 41.4 PFF overall grade … Activated off injured reserve Dec. 27 after suffering MCL sprain in Week 8.

Matthias Farley (2011-15), S, Las Vegas Raiders

This week: 27 special teams snaps in the Raiders’ 37-34 overtime loss to the 49ers.

Season: 16 games, 11 tackles, 351 special teams snaps.

Alohi Gilman (2017-19), S, Los Angeles Chargers

This week: Started and made 3 tackles in the Chargers’ 31-10 win over the Rams.

Season: 16 games (five tarts), 53 tackles, 1 interception, 2 passes broken up.

Robert Hainsey (2017-20), C, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

This week: Started at center and allowed 1 pressure in the Bucs’ 30-24 win over the Panthers.

Season: 16 games (all starts), 0 sacks and 20 pressures allowed, 66.7 PFF overall grade.

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Kyle Hamilton (2019-21), S, Baltimore Ravens

This week: Started and made 6 tackles in the Ravens’ 16-13 loss to the Steelers.

Season: 15 games (3 starts), 57 tackles, 2 sacks, 4 passes broken up, 1 forced fumble.

Daelin Hayes (2016-20), DE, Baltimore Ravens

Waived/injured by the Ravens at final cuts and placed on injured reserve.

Kurt Hinish (2017-21), DT, Houston Texans

This week: 3 tackles in the Texans’ 31-3 loss to the Jaguars.

Season: 15 games (three starts), 19 tackles, 9 pressures.

J.J. Jansen (2004-07), LS, Carolina Panthers

This week: Was the long snapper in the Panthers’ 30-24 loss to the Bucs.

Season: Has played in 16 games.

Jamir Jones (2016-19), DL, Pittsburgh Steelers

This week: 3 defensive snaps and 8 special teams snaps in the Steelers’ 16-13 win over the Ravens.

Season: 15 games, 8 tackles, 1 pass broken up.

Tony Jones Jr. (2016-19), RB, Free Agent

This week: Waived by the Seattle Seahawks Dec. 21.

Season: Six games, 10 carries for 24 yards and 5 catches for 30 yards between the Saints and the Seahawks … Waived by the Saints Oct. 8 and claimed by the Seahawks Oct. 10.

Khalid Kareem (2016-19), DL, Indianapolis Colts

This week: 20 defensive snaps and four special teams snaps in the Colts’ 38-10 loss to the Giants.

Season: Three games, 39 defensive snaps, 17 special teams snaps, 3 pressures … Signed by Indianapolis off the Cincinnati Bengals’ practice squad Nov. 22.

Cole Kmet (2017-19), TE, Chicago Bears

This week: 2 catches for 27 yards and 1 touchdown in the Bears’ 41-10 loss to the Lions.

Season: 16 games (all starts), 46 catches for 487 yards and 6 touchdowns.

Tommy Kraemer (2016-20), OL, Detroit Lions

Placed on injured reserve with a back injury Sept. 15 … Has not appeared in a game this season.

Julian Love (2016-18), S, New York Giants

This week: 4 tackles in the Giants’ 38-10 win over the Colts.

Season: 16 games (all starts), 124 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 3 passes broken up and 2 interceptions.

Nick Martin (2011-15), C, Washington Commanders

This week: Active but did not play in the Commanders’ 24-10 loss to the Browns.

Season: Three games (two starts), 4 pressures allowed, 42.6 PFF overall grade.

Zack Martin (2009-13), OG, Dallas Cowboys

This week: Started at right guard and allowed 0 pressures in the Cowboys’ 27-13 win over the Titans.

Season: 16 games (all starts), 16 pressures allowed, 72.8 PFF overall grade.

Nick McCloud (2020), S, New York Giants

This week: Started and made 2 tackles with 1 pass broken up in the Giants’ 38-10 win over the Colts.

Season: 13 games (seven starts), 38 tackles, 6 passes broken up.

Mike McGlinchey (2013-17), OT, San Francisco 49ers

This week: Started at right tackle and allowed 2 pressures in the 49ers’ 37-34 overtime win over the Raiders.

Season: 16 games (all starts), 5 sacks and 24 pressures allowed, 71.4 PFF overall grade.

Sam Mustipher (2014-18), C, Chicago Bears

This week: Started at center and allowed 1 pressure in the Bears’ 41-10 loss to the Lions.

Season: 16 games (15 starts), 2 sacks and 20 pressures allowed, 64.0 PFF overall grade.

Quenton Nelson (2014-17), OG, Indianapolis Colts

This week: Started at left guard and allowed 1 sack and 3 pressures in the Colts’ 38-10 loss to the Giants.

Season: 16 games (all starts), 5 sacks and 30 pressures allowed, 67.6 PFF overall grade.

Adetokunbo Ogundeji (2016-20), DE, Atlanta Falcons

This week: 2 tackles and 1 sack in the Falcons’ 20-19 win over the Cardinals.

Season: 14 games (all starts), 40 tackles, 6 pressures and 1 sack.

Julian Okwara (2016-19), LB, Detroit Lions

This week: Placed on injured reserve with an elbow injury Dec. 3.

Season: 10 games (two starts), 17 tackles, 12 pressures, 2 sacks.

Romeo Okwara (2012-15), DE, Detroit Lions

This week: 2 pressures in the Lions’ 41-10 win over the Bears.

Season: Four games, 5 tackles, 6 pressures and 2 sacks … Activated from the physically unable to perform list Dec. 4.

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (2017-20), LB, Cleveland Browns

This week: Placed on injured reserve Dec. 13 and will miss the rest of the regular season with a foot injury.

Season: 12 games (11 starts), 70 tackles, 4 passes broken up, 2 forced fumbles.

Isaac Rochell (2013-16), DL, Las Vegas Raiders

This week: 2 defensive snaps in the Raiders’ 37-34 overtime loss to the 49ers … Signed by the Raiders Dec. 28 after terminating his practice squad contract with the Cleveland Browns.

Season: Seven games (one start) and 12 tackles between the Raiders and Browns … Began the season on the Browns’ practice squad, signed to the 53-man roster Sept. 21, was waived Nov. 12 and assigned back to practice squad.

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Kyle Rudolph (2008-10), TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

This week: 11 offensive snaps in the Bucs’ 30-24 win over the Panthers.

Season: Seven games, 68 offensive snaps, 2 catches for 20 yards.

Ben Skowronek (2020), WR, Los Angeles Rams

This week: Missed the Rams’ 31-10 loss to the Chargers with a calf injury.

Season: 14 games (11 starts), 39 catches for 376 yards, 1 carry for 17 yards and a touchdown.

Harrison Smith (2007-11), S, Minnesota Vikings

This week: 5 tackles in the Vikings’ 41-17 loss to the Packers.

Season: 14 games (all starts), 85 tackles, 5 interceptions, 5 passes broken up.

Jaylon Smith (2013-15), LB, New York Giants

This week: 9 tackles in the Giants’ 38-10 win over the Colts.

Season: 13 games (11 starts), 87 tackles, 1 sack and 1 fumble recovery.

Durham Smythe (2013-17), TE, Miami Dolphins

This week: 1 catch for 9 yards in the Dolphins’ 23-21 loss to the Patriots.

Season: 15 games (14 starts), 12 catches for 90 yards and 1 touchdown, 2 rushing attempts for 1 yard and 1 touchdown.

Equanimeous St. Brown (2015-17), WR, Chicago Bears

This week: 2 catches for 20 yards in the Bears’ 41-10 loss to the Lions.

Season: 15 games (all starts), 20 catches for 320 yards and 1 touchdown, 6 carries for 54 yards.

Ronnie Stanley (2012-15), OT, Baltimore Ravens

This week: Started at left tackle and allowed 3 pressures in the Ravens’ 16-13 loss to the Steelers.

Season: 10 games (all starts), 12 pressures allowed, 71.6 PFF overall grade.

Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa (2017-21), DL, Las Vegas Raiders

Placed on the Raiders’ practice squad reserve/injured list Nov. 3 … Signed to the Raiders’ practice squad Aug. 31 after team waived him during final cuts.

Jerry Tillery (2015-18), DT, Las Vegas Raiders

This week: Started and made 1 tackle in the Raiders’ 37-34 overtime loss to the 49ers.

Season: 14 games (four starts), 17 tackles, 17 pressures, 1 sack between the Raiders and Chargers … Waived by the Chargers Nov. 10 and claimed by the Raiders Nov. 14.

Drue Tranquill (2014-18), LB, Los Angeles Chargers

This week: 9 tackles in the Chargers’ 31-10 win over the Rams.

Season: 16 games (16 starts), 138 tackles, 5 sacks, 4 passes broken up, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble.

Tommy Tremble (2018-20), TE, Carolina Panthers

This week: 3 catches for 33 yards and a touchdown in the Panthers’ 30-24 loss to the Bucs.

Season: 16 games (four starts), 18 catches for 172 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Kyren Williams (2019-21), RB, Los Angeles Rams

This week: 2 carries for 6 yards in the Rams’ 31-10 loss to the Chargers.

Season: Nine games, 35 carries for 139 yards, 9 catches for 76 yards.

Brock Wright (2017-20), TE, Detroit Lions

This week: 3 catches for 13 yards and 2 touchdowns in the Lions’ 41-10 win over the Bears.

Season: 16 games (nine starts), 18 catches, 216 yards, 4 touchdowns.

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